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Francis Park

The 2025 Francis Park opens Friday 4/25/25 and closes Sunday 8/31/25.
francispark

29862 N 900 Ave, Kewanee, IL 61443

Located three miles east of Kewanee stands the Woodland Palace, the unique home of Frederick Francis, constructed in 1890 using brick, stone, and native wood. The house boasts disappearing doors and windows, an air-cooling system, radiant heat deflectors in the fireplace chimney, and running water, all without the use of electricity. Tours of this remarkable residence are available Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Although reservations are not mandatory, it is recommended to call City Hall to schedule a time. Admission is $5 for adults, $1 for children 5-12, and free for 4 and under.

The park offers camping sites, picnic facilities, playgrounds, and a baseball diamond. Additionally, there is a 2000 sq foot shelter house available for rent for special occasions and events. Rental prices for the shelter house are $30.00 for a half day (either the 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. slot or the 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. slot) and $50.00 for a full day (from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.). Call City Hall to check availability and make your rental reservation.

RV camping with electrical hookup operates on a first-come, first-served basis. The park provides 60 sites, including 30 with 30-amp services and 30 with 20-amp services. There's a central water supply for tank filling and a dump station located on the Westside of the park. While there are no shower facilities, a public restroom is available. Prices are $13 per night or $78 for 7 nights. Tent camping in the North Field is permitted at $10 per night.

The City of Kewanee has been awarded the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant, making 2024-2025 significant for Francis Park. Plans are underway to enhance a portion of the trails in the Northeast section of the park, making them ADA compliant. Additionally, a new playground and shelter house will be installed. Planned improvements to the RV sites include upgrading to 50-amp electrical service and providing individual water connections per site. While most of the construction is scheduled for the off-season, we apologize in advance if any construction interferes with your park visit.

For all other questions please call City Hall or email FrancisPark@cityofkewanee.net.

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